Integrated capture and solar-driven utilization of CO2 from flue gas and air

Integration of carbon capture with utilization technologies can lead the way to a net-zero carbon economy. Nevertheless, direct chemical conversion of captured CO2 products remains challenging due to their thermodynamic stability. Here, we demonstrate CO2 capture from flue gas/air and its direct conversion into syngas under solar irradiation without any externally applied voltage. The system captures CO2 with an amine/hydroxide solution and photoelectrochemically converts it into syngas (CO:H2 1:2 (concentrated CO2), 1:4 (simulated flue gas), and 1:30 (air)) using a perovskite-based photocathode with an immobilized molecular Co-phthalocyanine catalyst. At the anode, plastic-derived ethylene glycol is oxidized into glycolic acid over a Cu26Pd74 alloy catalyst. The overall process uses flue gas/air as carbon source and discarded plastic waste as electron donor, opening avenues for integrated carbon-neutral/negative solar fuel and waste upcycling technologies.